Last week, the Ford Government cut the funding for library service in Northern and Southern Ontario. Both the Southern Ontario Library Service (SOLS) and the Ontario Library Service – North (OLS-North) announce that funding has been slashed by about 50 per cent. Both agencies report that that library service to rural and Indignenous communities will be the hardest hit by these cuts. While not directly affecting Toronto at this particular time - it reconfirms the Ford Government's hostile position on public libraries and the services they provide. The Toronto Public Library Workers Union opposes these cuts. Cuts to public library service, be it in Ontario or anywhere in Canada affects us all. The Ford Government is not for the people. Public libraries are for the people.
Shauna Costache, a library worker in Southern Ontario, has launched a petition against these cuts. Please sign and share.
Read on:
Funding cuts to Northern, Southern Ontario library systems hit rural and Indigenous communities Globe & Mail
Cuts to Ontario library services devastating to under-served populations, says librarian CBC Radio
Ontarians fight back against province's cuts to library services Huffington Post
Ford government cuts Ontario Library Service budgets in half Toronto Star
SOLS budget cuts 2019/2020 Southern Ontario Library Service
Funding for library services slashed by half in Ontario budget Global News
Ontario is cutting public library funding in half BlogTo